Tourism News
8 Great Reasons to Visit Myrtle Beach During Christmas
Visiting Myrtle Beach in December may sound strange to some, but booking a vacation during the holidays can actually be tons of fun. Christmas in Myrtle Beach offers a fun getaway with great weather and tons of holiday spirit!
Here are 8 great reasons to visit Myrtle Beach during Christmas:
Enjoy Christmas Lights in Myrtle Beach
Christmas lights are all over the Myrtle Beach area during the holidays! Experience the beach in a whole new way when you see your favorite landmarks decked out in their holiday best. The oceanfront Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is a centerpiece of the Winter Wonderland Festival and will be covered in Christmas lights from Nov. 29 through the end of the year.
The iconic Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island is illuminated with hand-lit candles and millions of Christmas lights with special nighttime hours on weekends throughout the holiday season for Nights of a Thousand Candles. In Murrells Inlet, the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk is transformed into a festive display with their annual Wonderland of Lights, which runs nightly from Nov. 29 through Dec. 31.
In North Myrtle Beach, The Great Christmas Light Show offers a drive-through light display set to music at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.
Do Some Shopping
No matter what time of year you visit Myrtle Beach, one thing’s for sure: there are tons of great places to shop in the Myrtle Beach area. However, during the Christmas season, vacationers can take advantage of Christmas deals as well as all of the unique shops along the Grand Strand. Cross all your loved ones off of your Christmas list while having a great time in beautiful Myrtle Beach.
Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing are both massive shopping, dining and entertainment complexes where you can spend the day browsing through unique shops and specialty stores and grab a bite to eat all in one convenient location.
Callahan’s of Calabash is a unique specialty shop just across the state line in Calabash, N.C., featuring brand-name apparel and decor as well as a variety of beach-themed nautical gifts in the sprawling 35,000-square-foot space. St. Nick Nacks Christmas Shop is located inside Callahan’s and includes more than 100 decorated trees and 4 million ornaments.
On the south end, the Lazy Gator is a massive gift shop full of Southern specialties, unique coastal and nautical decor, apparel, and collectibles. The Lazy Gator prides itself on offering goods made in the Carolinas and USA. They also offer a variety of homemade fudge to satisfy your sweet tooth while you shop.
Tanger Outlets offer two Myrtle Beach-area locations and feature name-brand stores with year-round deals on apparel and merchandise.
Experience World-Class Christmas Shows
Singing, dancing, gorgeous costumes, lights, and lots of holiday cheer – all of these can be found in all of the wonderful Christmas Shows in Myrtle Beach. The shows start in November and continue right through Christmas and range from traditional Broadway-style shows to tribute artists to motown.
The Carolina Opry’s Christmas Show of the South is a time-honored tradition to celebrate the holidays at the beach. Full of music and dance, it is celebrating more than 30 years as a Christmas staple in Myrtle Beach. At the Alabama Theatre, the South’s Grandest Christmas Show is an award-winning production that combines comedy, music and special effects to bring the Christmas spirit alive.
Legendary performer Bill Connors pays tribute to the Rocket Man Elton John with a year-round concert at the cabaret-style GTS Theatre. During the holidays, the show invites fans to Step Into Christmas for a unique holiday performance. Also at GTS Theatre, fans can experience the Motown Christmas Tribute with a musical journey through Motown and favorite holiday hits, including Diana Ross’s Happy Xmas War is Over, Joy to the World, and more.
Take Advantage of Hotel Deals
If you love saving money, then visiting Myrtle Beach during the Christmas season is a great way to catch some great deals. Since the hotel occupancy is down this time of the year, it is easy to find awesome deals on hotel rooms, as well as other things.
Whether you choose to stay in your favorite summer hotel, or whether you take advantage of great prices on luxury resorts or condos, you’ll definitely end up paying less than during the peak summer seasons. This way, you can save vacation money and use it towards your Christmas shopping; it’s a win-win situation!
Dine Out at the Beach – Even on Christmas Day
Myrtle Beach has become a year-round destination in recent decades. The days of your favorite restaurant shuttering for the winter are long gone. Dine out at your favorite Myrtle Beach restaurants during the holiday season — many times with no wait! Whether you’re looking for an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, a restaurant with a great view or something else, you’ll find plenty of options for dining in Myrtle Beach.
If you find yourself at the beach on Christmas Day, there are plenty of Myrtle Beach restaurants open on Christmas to help you enjoy a perfect holiday meal. Many restaurants are open on Christmas Day, and even more offer the option of pre-ordering a holiday meal to enjoy on Christmas.
Splash Around with Indoor Waterparks and Pools
It may be too cold to go swimming in the ocean this time of the year, but you can always book your vacation at one of these Myrtle Beach hotels and resorts with indoor waterparks. That way, you don’t have to miss out on having fun in the water just because of the cooler weather. Plus, this is always an added bonus if you have kids with you, too!
Take advantage of all of the holiday things to do in Myrtle Beach, but also get your fill of the beach life by splashing around with your family in an indoor waterpark.
Love Christmas Trees? We’ve Got Them!
For many people, the Christmas tree is the symbol of the season. Adorned with lights and ornaments, Christmas trees bring joy and a feeling of the magic of the holidays. If you’re one to get sentimental over spruce during the holidays, Myrtle Beach is perfect destination for you.
Christmas trees are lit with ceremonies throughout the season and can be enjoyed through the new year. Broadway at the Beach hosts their tree lighting in mid November so guests can enjoy the massive tree longer! Check out the tree’s light show set to music, which plays every 30 minutes from 4 to 9 p.m. daily. Barefoot Landing’s lights their tree at the Lighting of the Landing. The 22-foot tree is covered in lights and can be enjoyed nightly in the complex’s Dockside Village.
Trees are also on display in Surfside Beach, North Myrtle Beach’s McLean Park, and on the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. Ripley’s Aquarium even hosts a Festival of Trees with a Christmas tree for every state.
Enjoy Special Holiday Events
In addition to Christmas Lights, Christmas Trees and festive shows, the Myrtle Beach area hosts fun Christmas-themed events, including parades, a Santa Crawl, and at least one boat regatta.
The North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade is a festive nighttime event with lighted floats and vehicles. Surfside Beach, Conway and Murrells Inlet all host parades featuring local civic groups, businesses, floats and marching bands as well.
For some festive adult fun, join the Santa Crawl on the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, which features food and drink specials, live music, and prizes for the best Christmas attire. Check out these events and more on our Myrtle Beach events calendar.
